Grace-based Parenting from page 1
Prayer and doctrine
Parents also vow to pray on behalf of and indoctrinate their children.“ Pray with” points to the discipline of family prayer.“ Pray for” implies all manner of prayer: private, in families, and public. Our children should grow up hearing their parents’ voices pleading for their souls, leading to their conversion, or haunting them all the way to the grave. The Bible promises:“ The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much”( Jas 5:16, NASB). As Ambrose( c 340- 397) promised Augustine’ s mother Monica prior to her son’ s conversion,“ Surely the son of so many tears will not perish.”
They will also“ teach( them) the doctrines of our holy religion.” Undoubtedly previous generations of Reformed Protestants would have understood themselves to be promising to catechize their children, utilizing the exceptionally convenient tools of the Catechism for Young Children and the Shorter Catechism. Taking these two disciplines together, prayer and teaching, a venue for doing so is implied.
Again, regular family devotions are in view.
All means
Finally, parents vow to“ strive, by all the means of God’ s appointment” to bring them to Christ. What does this mean? There is little doubt as to what it means in the context of a Presbyterian baptism. It means parents are to establish the disciplines of the family altar and the family pew. The“ means of God’ s appointment” are the ordinary means of grace, the word, sacraments, and prayer. Parents are promising to bring their children to the weekly services of the church where they will be exposed to the preaching of the word, the public prayers of the church, the singing of praises, and the regular administration of the sacraments. Conscientious parents will have their children present in the public services of the church morning and evening, week in and week out, all the while those children are under their authority.
They will also conduct daily family worship in which Scripture is read, praises are sung, and prayers are offered. Why? Because faith comes by hearing the word of Christ( Rom 10:17); because we are born again by the living and abiding word( 1 Pet 1:33-35); because we grow by the pure milk of the word( 1 Pet 2:1, 2); because the gospel is the power of God for salvation( Rom 1:16); because through prayer we find grace to help in time of need( Heb 4:16).
Because we believe in original sin, we know that a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit will have to take place if our children are to become believers. Since this is the case, our parenting will aim from the beginning to restrain their natural idolatry, intemperance, and ego-centricity by negative means: correction, discipline, frequent use of the word“ no,” punishment for disobedience, insistence upon immediate obedience. Our parenting will insist upon self-control, expect deference to adults, and require delayed gratification. We will also utilize positive means: lots of love, lots of affection, lots of fun, and prayer, doctrine, devotions, and church.
— TLJ student ministries
April 14 • Hide Eggs at Point Pleasant April 21-23 • Choir Trip
Middle School Fellowship 7:00-7:55 every Sunday
High School Fellowship
6:30-8:30 every Wednesday
High School Small Groups 7:00-7:55 every Sunday
Youth Choir
4-5 every Sunday
Gals’ Prayer Breakfast
6:40-7:25 every Tuesday morning at the downtown Panera
( Youth Guys are encouraged to join the men’ s prayer breakfast on Tuesday mornings 6:30-8:00 in the I. P. C. Fellowship Hall.)
Music Ministry
Thank you to everyone that hosted Bryan College Choir students on March 11. The choir was a wonderful addition to our morning worship service on March 12, and your willingness to host aided their presence with us.
The Sanctuary Choir is currently preparing anthems for Maundy Thursday, Easter, the Kirkin’ Service and worship services through June. We will be taking the month of July off. If you are interested in singing with the choir, anytime is a good time to join us— Wednesday nights, 6:30-8:30 p. m. You are always welcome.
The Youth Choir is preparing music for the Youth Choir trip- April 21-23. We will leave church at 4:00 p. m. on Friday, April 21. On Sunday, April 23, we will sing for the Sovereign Grace Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, N. C.
The Chapel Choir will have a Summer Waves adventure on May 20. The children will sing for the last time this season on May 21.
Please continue to support the music ministry of our church with your prayers. In Christ’ s Service, Kathryn Van Eck
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